Primary sources are documents or records created by witnesses or participants of past events

Secondary sources interpret, analyze or draw conclusions from primary sources. They are createdafter the event.

Primary sources are original, uninterpreted information (Original = Primary = First)
Unedited, firsthand access to words, images, or objects created by persons directly involved in an activity or event or speaking directly for a group. This is information before it has been analyzed, interpreted, commented upon, spun, or repackaged. Depending upon the context, these may include treaties, research reports, legal cases, charters, constitutions, parliamentary debates, ambassador's reports, statutes, administrative regulations, speeches, manuscripts, diaries, personal letters, photographs, video footage, posters, diplomatic records, etc.

Secondary

Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or summarize (Not original = Secondary = Not first)
Commentary upon, or analysis of, events, ideas, or primary sources. Because they are often written significantly after events by parties not directly involved but who have special expertise, they may provide historical context or critical perspectives. Examples are scholarly books, journals, magazines, criticism, interpretations, and so forth.

Checklist

Tertiary Sources

Tertiary sources offer a summary of a topic, event or condition and include primary and secondary sources. Indexes that guide users to specific locations within a book or source are also considered tertiary.  Many reference books are considered tertiary sources.

Tertiary sources include:

• Almanacs
• Bibliographies
• Chonologies
• Indexes
• Manuals
• Textbooks

 Some sources are both secondary and tertiary like dictionaries and encyclopedias